Faster immigration ahead at Indian airports as e-arrival card replaces disembarkation form: Here's the process

Dubai: Immigration formalities at Indian airports will now be faster and more streamlined. The digital e-arrival card has replaced the traditional paper disembarkation card as of yesterday. This new initiative aims to expedite immigration clearance for foreign nationals.

Foreign passengers must submit the e-arrival card via the India Bureau of Immigration’s website no earlier than 72 hours and no later than 24 hours before boarding their flight. The process is free of charge. Passengers who fail to submit the e-arrival card in advance will face longer waiting times at the airport during immigration, according to a communication issued by Emirates Airlines.

Basic details, such as passport number, nationality, purpose of visit, Indian address, and contact information, must be provided in the online form. No documents are required to be uploaded. Indian citizens and OCI cardholders are exempt from this requirement.

Travel agencies in the UAE, which send the highest number of passengers to India, have welcomed the move. They described it as a significant change that will save passengers time. The time spent filling out arrival cards upon reaching the airport can now be avoided. Submitting the form online 24 hours before travel will expedite immigration procedures. This is beneficial for those travelling to India for various purposes. Once the form is submitted online, passenger details will be available at immigration counters even before they board the flight.

Industry experts stated that the shift from paper to digital will simplify procedures and help eliminate long queues at India’s busy airports. Immigration clearance will be faster, as officials will already have access to passenger details upon arrival.